2015 Porsche Macan First Ride

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Cayman

Porsche let us go on a ride-along of late-stage validation testing of its 2015 Macan compact crossover here in Southern California, months ahead of its official reveal and on-sale date. Manufacturers usually give automotive journalists the red carpet treatment. However, that cosseting comes at a price: often carefully gated access to product information, on the manufacturers' terms and timeline. The only unauthorized sneak peeks we usually get are through an international network of spy photographers, many of whom camp out regularly at the Nürburgring; in Milford, Michigan; and at other locales where future products are known to test.

Stranger In Our Own LandThe experience had a cloak-and-dagger feel from the very start. I picked up David Engelman, Porsche North America's media relations manager, at LAX. I was unceremoniously driving our long-term Nissan NV200 cargo van, and had to circle the airport twice before I could cut through traffic and pick him up curbside. I was nervous about my hospitality faux pas, but Engelman didn't seem to mind, and asked if I had a good recommendation on where to grab lunch. We went to a wood-fired pizza restaurant halfway between the airport and MT's global HQ in El Segundo.

He discussed the overall plans and logistics of the trip and the details of the Macan with surprising candor, on the condition that we not discuss them publicly until closer to the vehicle's official reveal at the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show. After lunch we were dispatched back up to LAX to meet up with the Porsche testing crew. On the way back to the airport, we saw our rides for the next few days hiding in plain sight on the mean streets of L.A. To the untrained eye, they looked like dark gray Cayennes. But closer inspection revealed a slightly smaller scale and faster rear roofline. Engelman and I both looked over and said, "Yep, there they are!"We parked the lowly Nissan in a long-term lot and took a shuttle back to the main terminal, where we walked around the parking garage until we found the group of Porsche engineers and foreign journalists gathered with the semi-camouflaged Macan mules in a relatively vacant area of the structure. Most of the conversations taking place around me were in German. I was the only U.S. journalist invited along on this trip. After a brief orientation, we loaded up into the mules and headed out on the road. The first part of the drive was on back roads of Malibu and Pacific Palisades, appropriate venues for a performance vehicle. Although the fit and finish of these late-stage mules seemed pretty close to factory quality, they were still considered prototypes, and the dashboard, center console, and door panels were shrouded with black coverings to hide them from prying eyes. Porsche asked that we not go into great detail about the interior of the Macan, but I will say it will be immediately familiar to those acquainted with the interiors of Porsche's newer models. And yes, the ignition switch is on the left side of the steering wheel.

There were three versions of the Macan on our trip: the S trim, the top-of-the-line Turbo, and the world-market Diesel. When I asked if the diesel model would eventually be sold in the U.S., the U.S. product reps and Porsche engineers frequently answered, "What do you think?" Engelman noted that 30 percent of Cayenne sales are currently diesels, indicating a strong possibility and willingness to sell the diesel model Stateside. The first model I got into was the Turbo. Its engineers were born and raised on the autobahn, so a few pokey Prius and Accord drivers weren't going to impede their progress, and the Turbo's ample power was amply demonstrated on the 405. Any doubts that the Macan was a legitimate Porsche were quickly put to rest. The exhaust note on the gasoline-powered models was simply fantastic.

No corporate twin, this MacanAlthough Porsche had access to the Volkswagen corporate parts bin to use as much or as little of the Audi Q5 as it wanted, the Macan is about 80 percent new and different than the Q5, including unique gasoline powertrains, unique sheetmetal, and some pretty substantial structural and chassis differences, including the positioning and design of the front dash crossmember. The Audi Q5's conventional eight-speed torque converter automatic transmission was replaced by Porsche's seven-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission for crisper, more responsive shifts and performance.Porsche has a strict policy against any sort of artificial or electronic noisemakers to enhance or accentuate the engine note. Either the machinery creates sweet music, or it doesn't. This was brought up during a ride of the diesel model, which was uncharacteristically quiet for a Porsche, and especially quiet compared to the slightly rowdy gas-powered models. Engineers said the only way they could get a sporty-sounding exhaust note with the diesel was with artificial noise, so they didn't.The Macans were tightly wrapped for our overnight stay at a hotel. The next day, the journalists, engineers, and Porsche product and PR staff went to Big Bear for the day. Once again, the engineers' autobahn upbringings showed, as they confidently weaved through the Southern California congestion on our way out to the wilderness.With its sport-tuned suspension and high-revving (except for the diesel) engines, the Macan is clearly built with on-road performance as the priority. But Porsche wanted to prove its small crossover wasn't completely helpless when the pavement ended. We found some moderately challenging trails and got some photography and video footage of the adventure. The Macan may not be the best choice for tackling the Rubicon, but it's more than capable of handling the occasional dirt road or snowy pass.

A Real PorscheMy takeaway from the trip is that the Macan is as legitimately a Porsche as the 911, Boxster, Cayman, and certainly the Cayenne. In the quest for pursuing higher global sales volume, the company could have cynically re-badged and mildly re-engineered an Audi Q5, put some oval headlights and the Stuttgart crest on it, and called it a day. But the engineers started with the bare minimum of Volkswagen's corporate MLB platform and fine-tuned and developed it until it had that quintessential Porsche magic. Some of the trade-offs of this approach are somewhat counter-intuitive to what you'd expect of a performance-oriented brand, such as a slightly heavier curb weight than an equivalent Q5, but robust powertrains of up to 400 hp and masterfully tuned suspension calibrations make the Macan nearly as much fun to play with in the canyons as the Boxster and Cayman.The Macan is a niche product at a premium price, and it is definitely not for those customers choosing a crossover strictly on the basis of utility or practicality. Even for those seeking a status nameplate, the Q5, BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLK, or even Range Rover Evoque are probably more suitable for those who simply want to impress their non-enthusiast, status-conscious friends.But for those who appreciate Porsche's performance heritage and mystique and want a compact crossover, the Macan sacrifices little in terms of driving enjoyment and the Porsche experience in exchange for a measure of utility. Even its name -- the Indonesian word for "tiger" -- is appropriate for the way the vehicle eagerly devours the curves when pushed. Yes, there are other high-performance compact crossovers on the market, but none with the Macan's level of performance or single-minded dedication to driving enjoyment. For the time being, it's a totally unique product in the compact premium crossover market.Be sure to check back in November and the Los Angeles Auto Show for full details of Porsche's marvelous new compact crossover.

I'm in for the Turbo! But as a multi Porsche owner, I'm all to familiar with the obscenely gratuitous Porsche options list. I would not be the least bit surprised to see decently optioned Turbo variants well into the 80's. Why would one write that check when you could have the larger and just as powerful Cayenne S for the same price?? However, if Porsche shows some restraint and prices this model judiciously, I predict it will quickly eclipse the Cayenne as the best selling Porsche.

My guess is this isn’t a compact SUV that will sell well in America.
Considering its price which will be at least $15 – 25k more than Audi Q5, many
people will simply buy a larger SUV. It is specific market product. Maybe
places like China and Japan , and part of Europe where SUV means something
different than the U.S. demographics will need, it may have an appeal. That explains
why those places, Cadillac Escalade has no appeal to them even though it is
popular in America.

If you ever configured a Porsche, you'll understand. Only thing that comes free is black or white paint job and ashtray if you are a smoker. Everything else, it will be an option. Knowing that, why wouldn't it be much more than Audi Q5?

@JediMasterPlayer What inside information do you have to substantiate your pricing assumptions? Porsche knows that pricing is critical to sales success. It moves a lot of Boxsters at relatively modest prices.

The demand for a Macan is there. With an increasing percentage of Americans living in urban areas and driving crowded streets, the love-fest with bloated oversize utes may be over. Cute utes are very much the hot segment right now -- and when fuel prices ratchet up again, then wagons will be en vogue. There simply aren't many 6+ person families anymore, so the only thing a large SUV offers the modern family is towing capacity. That's not the core of the Porsche market.

I like.......There are so many very good CUVs. This will most likely be priced right up there with the CTS. That would be a tough choice for me. I could be very happy with a base V6 7 speed PDK with a sports exhaust.

The Macan will be my next SUV! I just hope it will not be priced over the $70K for the top of the line model with everything on it! Cayenne model with everything on it turn out to be too much for my budget at $128K!

@OMEGATALON ... and Cadillac needs to abandon the hideous "Art & Science" styling. It is amazing Cadillac sells as well as it does considering that half of people on the street detest the awkward angular boxy styling. The Macan, on the opposite end of the spectrum, seems to be enthusiastically received by everyone except the 2% who insist that the only good Porsches were the cute little air-cooled models hand-built in the 1950's.

ATlPaul-I'm not sure where you come to your conclusions but I must disagree with you strongly.Let me mention a few names that verify the popularity of both small SUV's/CUVs but also pricey ones in the USA.

Rav 4/Honda CRV/Subaru Forester/VW Tiguan/Mazda CX5/Mercedes GLK/Audi Q5/BMW X3/Range Rover Evoque/Volvo X60/Ford Escape/Toyota Highlander/Mini Countryman All4, New Jeep Cherokee etc. Do I really need to name any more to proove my point here?The Macan will do just fine.

Car buyers in the USA are increasingly urban / suburban, with no more than 2 kids to haul around. These census trends are obvious to even the most casual observer. Bloated "American-sized" vehicles will continue to sell, but all the vehicles that pngrant54 mentioned are carving out market share easily, especially as gasoline follows its inevitable volatile march upward in price.

Most "cute utes" are merely modern wagons made to look more off-road capable than they really are, as they are almost all based on FWD economy car underpinnings. This latest Porsche will obviously put them all to shame because it was engineered from the ground up to be a Porsche first, with additional utility added. The crest is not tarnished in the slightest, and any "purist" who claims so is speaking from a position of ignorance. There will be a waiting list to receive the first Macans.

I am a purist, the first one to always bash on the new direction that BMW is taking by making their cars less entertaining to drive but here is the thing: I want one! Badly. This is a fantastic sharp looking CUV and it looks like it will be fun to drive too, would be a great car to replace my wife's Mazda CX9 (I don't need the third row anyway)

I just love how Porsche engineers a vehicle. They took a Q5 and basically gutted it. Different engines, different interior, different transmissions, and even some expensive structural changes. This appears to be the real deal. Anyone who says this is just a badge engineered vehicle is simply clueless. Porsche remains Germany's #1 car maker in their strict discipline of how to build a car that upholds the brand values. Look for profits and sales to go even higher on the back of this more affordable entry into a hot market, the compact luxury SUV market.

@TheBigPill@Marcus The only great M3 was the M3 Coupe. Few 4-doors have ever made truly great sports cars, with the BMW 3-series being no exception. 4-doors by their very nature are better tuned for city driving or touring, not for the track. In general, they are heavier and bigger than coupes. (Yes, we know that there are touring car racing series, but that's akin to NASCAR trucks versus "stock" cars ...)

Speculation for a 2-door version of the Panamera has been strong since its introduction, but surprisingly Porsche is in no rush to reproduce a modern 928 touring car. Interestingly, BMW's bloated 2-door M6 weighs more than the Panamera Turbo S with 4 doors. When Porsche's current model equals the competition even before putting its touring car on a coupe diet, there is little market incentive to invest money into the project.

If you enjoy the 918 and programs similar to it, thank the SUVs in the Porsche stable for that. Purist will bemoan the thought of Porsche's perceived dilution of the brand but fail to acknowledge the opportunities ventures like this allot them. That this (and the Cayenne) drives well and the philosophies behind it uphold Porsche tradition speaks volumes to their dedication to providing the purest driving experiences. Kudos Porsche.

@Marcus@jbernard A specialty-volume auto manufacturer that offers a truly bespoke experience (for a price, of course). What I'd like to see next is a successor to the 968...we all know they have the expertise, and the capital.

I agree. Porsche is about as close to perfection as you can get. No half-arse cars. They don't have a loser or even a marginal vehicle anywhere in their lineup. They're the specialty, but volume automaker. The almost never, ever miss.

@mustangfan1 What language are you using, and what article are you reading?

Fine, let's pretend that an Escape has anything in common with a Macan (despite all evidence to the contrary). Porsche designs its vehicles to rigorous engineering standards, rejecting gimmicks that deceive the buyer into thinking he's getting high perceived performance. Ford, a mass automaker, must build vehicles to price points, compromising all kinds of things the buyer won't immediately notice. It trumpets useless numbers ("best selling in class" or "highest available power in class") incessantly.

It is unlikely that there is a single measurable performance metric where the Escape would beat the Macan. This is not a judgement against Ford, those are merely the facts of two separate automakers with two different philosophies serving two different markets. So why again, mustangfan, do you bother wasting time injecting Ford into a discussion on what might be car of the year for 2015?

Note how I refrained from laughing about all the recalls from the last time Ford attempted to serve the premium sportscar market with their GT, which was brilliant in planning but disastrous in execution, including some serious quality and safety issues that no manufacturer with Ford's experience should have screwed up.

May Ford continue to concentrate on what it knows how to do, and leave the premium performing cars to the capable hands of Porsche.

You know what I mean; in practical terms, Porsche has infinite pricing latitude compared to Ford -- and that's despite selling against the headwind of a ~40% Euro exchange rate + import duty penalty. To be successful in accomplishing that means you have to make extremely special vehicles. Porsche does; Ford does not.